World War II Honoree

Lloyd Wendall Davenport

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Manhattan, Kansas

Honored By

Lloyd Davenport & Warren W. Davenport

Relationship

Self & Brother

SERVED FROM DECEMBER 1941 TO OCTOBER 1945. AFTER ENLISTING IN KANSAS CITY, HE WAS SENT TO SAN DIEGO, WHERE HE HAPPENED TO HAVE HIS BROTHER AS HIS SUPERVISOR. WORKED IN THE ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT ON THE USS J. FRANKLIN BELL APA-16 AND WAS ASSIGNED IMMEDIATELY TO JOIN THE 3RD FLEET IN THE PACIFIC. HIS SHIP WAS INVOLVED IN ALL THE ISLAND HOPPING INVASIONS AND HE SERVED WITH IT FROM NEW ZEALAND TO GUAM. HE WAS A GUNNER'S MATE ON AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN ONBOARD SHIP, BUT WHEN THE INVASIONS OCCURRED, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE DUTY OF COXSWAIN ON AN LCI. AFTER YEARS OF INVADING ISLANDS, HE VOLUNTEERED TO JOIN THE NEWLY FORMED UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAM, FROGMAN, SEAL, UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAM. AS AN NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER, DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS HE WOULD FACE.